OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney is actively negotiating with U.S. President Donald Trump to secure a new trade and security agreement. This deal aims to eliminate all tariffs on Canadian goods, particularly the significant levies on steel and aluminum that have been impacting the Canadian economy.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford revealed to reporters at Queen’s Park on Thursday that he spoke with Carney the previous day. He stated, "The prime minister is in deep, deep discussions right now with the administration in the U.S. and President Trump."

Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly also confirmed the ongoing negotiations. She remarked, "First of all, we are for sure in a trade war. It’s normal that, at the same moment that this trade war is happening, there are also diplomatic discussions, so Prime Minister Carney and President Trump are talking."

This week, Trump signed an executive order that doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%. This move has raised concerns across various Canadian sectors. Carney indicated that his government would take "some time but not much" to respond if a deal is not reached soon. He stated, "We are in intensive discussions right now with the Americans on the trading relationship. Those discussions are progressing."

While Carney did not confirm his direct involvement in these discussions, Ford emphasized the urgency of implementing retaliatory tariffs if negotiations fail. He said, "The ideal situation is to get a deal, and if that deal does not happen in the next few days, then we have to slap another 25% tariff on top of the existing 25% tariff on our aluminum and steel." Ford praised Carney's negotiation efforts, stating, "I think the prime minister is doing an incredible job of negotiating along with Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc as well."

LeBlanc was in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday meeting with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump prepared to sign the tariff order. Ford noted that the federal government is working diligently to finalize a deal with Trump, suggesting they might be "right at the brink" of an agreement. He added, "Now, we know President Trump, he wakes up in the morning, he could change his mind, and we’ll be monitoring and discussing this with the prime minister on a daily basis until they get a deal, or they don’t get a deal. If they don’t, we have to come out guns blazing."

In a related development, Canadian steel company CEOs and union representatives met with federal ministers in Ottawa on Thursday. Their goal was to urge swift action to prevent potential job losses. Joly, who met with the industry representatives, expressed her commitment to finding solutions. "A lot of the conversation was about how we can make sure that we protect our domestic market, and we’re working on solutions," she said.

Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne echoed this sentiment, stating, "We all want a very strong steel and aluminum industry in this country. They are committed. We are committed. We’re going to work hand in hand."

The federal government has pledged to utilize Canadian steel and aluminum in national infrastructure and defense projects to mitigate the impact of the tariffs. However, industry leaders are concerned about their survival until these measures take effect.

To expedite the process, the government plans to introduce its "One Canadian Economy" bill on Friday, which aims to fast-track projects deemed in the national interest. All 13 provincial and territorial premiers met with Carney over the weekend to discuss potential projects, including ports, offshore wind development, oil pipelines, and critical mineral mines, that could be prioritized under this new process.

The federal government hopes to gain unanimous support for the legislation, although some opposition members have expressed reservations.